Subject to pending parliamentary approval, the Environment Agency (EA) will be able to lock the gates or block access to problem waste sites to prevent waste illegally building up. Potential changes in legislation will also allow the EA to force operators to clear all the waste at any problem waste site, not just the illegal waste.

This comes as today new powers which may potentially be granted to the EA to tackle the “serious problem” of waste crime were announced by the Environmental Minister. It comes in conjunction with the launch of a consultation by Defra on further action to crack-down on illegal sites which will include possible new powers for local authorities to fine householders for using illegal operators.

As a more imminent and short term solution, and subject to parliamentary approval, the Environment Agency (EA) will be able to lock the gates or block access to problem waste sites to prevent waste illegally building up. Changes will also enable the EA to force operators to clear all the waste at a problem waste site, not just the illegal waste.

The new Agency powers are to be introduced by spring 2018, subject to the parliamentary approval. This follows a public consultation in which 90% of respondents, said Defra, were in favour of allowing regulators to take physical steps to prevent operators from accepting more illegally dumped waste.

According to Defra, waste crime cost the English economy more than £600m in 2015, including lost landfill tax revenues and clean-up costs.